Iran’s Supreme Leader bans women from cycling

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a fatwa (religious edict) banning women from riding bicycles in public places, Iranian media have reported.

Last year, published reports quoted members of the Iranian Fatwa Committees of the Supreme Leader’s Office, who set conditions for adult women to ride bicycles and motor bikes, including not to attract the attention of male strangers. Fundamentalist websites have now published an old statement by Khamenei, in which he said that it is inappropriate for women to cycle.

Opposition groups said last year that the Iranian authorities have blocked a cycling race for families as part of the Iran’s “Carless Tuesday” campaign.

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